Effects of exercise training experience on hand grip strength, body composition and postural stability in fitness pole dancers.

BACKGROUND: Although the growing popularity of pole dance as a leisure-time activity of people of all ages, the problem of physical effects of exercise on the pole is not considered in the scientific literature. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the hand grip strength, body composition and postural stability of fitness pole dancers with different training experience.

METHODS: The inclusion criteria for this study were met by 52 female pole dancers. The research program included assessment of body composition (using BC-418 Segmental Body Composition Analyzer, Tanita, Tokyo, Japan), hand grip strength by hydraulic dynamometer JAMAR, and postural stability using ALFA stabilometric platform.

RESULTS: Significant differences depending on the pole dance advancement level were found in postural stability and hand-grip strength. The average values of the surface area and the length sway indicated by feet center of pressure were significantly decreasing with the increasing group experience (P<0.05). Strength level was increasing with the consecutive advancement level (right hand χ2=9.595, P=0.008, left hand χ2=8.936, P=0.011).

CONCLUSIONS: Regular practice of pole dance fitness can contribute to a significant increase of strength and improvement of the postural stability, which is important for the entire musculoskeletal system. However, further studies on the beneficial and negative (e.g. injuries) impact of exercises on the pole on the musculoskeletal system are required, including larger group of respondents, their diverse age and, above all, longitudinal studies.